I’ll be starting in Venice and over the course of a week we’ll be stopping in Dubrovnik and Mykonos and finishing in Istanbul. Apart from Venice these are all new places for me so I can’t wait to explore.

As it’s my second cruise I now know what I should be packing. The first time I was really unsure about what to pack for the evenings but I soon discovered the ship felt like a little town. There are bars and restaurants and even nightclubs so pack as though you would for regular nights out. Sometimes you might stay up all night but some nights you’ll be tired and will pop out for a quick bite before going back to your room.

Tips for packing for a cruise

How much to pack?

I never recommend over-packing but if you’re ever going to take a large case on holiday, now is the time.

One of the reasons people love cruises is because you get to see a lot of the world without having to move hotel rooms and keep packing and unpacking your case. Having your laundry done onboard is also expensive so you don’t really want to be washing or re-wearing too many items.

But don’t go nuts with your packing. Unless you have an enormous suite on your cruise, your cabin is likely to be much smaller than an average hotel room so keep this in mind. You don’t want to feel like you’re sleeping in the middle of a TopShop sale. You also need to get your bags on the plane without paying extra fees!

Check out the dress code

I don’t know what all cruises are like but Celebrity Cruises are fairly formal in the evenings. Each evening is like going out on the town. You can choose from different restaurants and go to different bars for your pre-dinner drinks and then for your after-dinner drinks so dress like you would for a night out. Of course, there are informal places to eat and drink too but you wouldn’t want to be wearing jeans and trainers for dinner.

There are usually a couple of formal evenings where suits are expected for men and gowns for women. If you aren’t the dress-type, you’d definitely get away with nice trousers and a smart top as there is always somewhere suitable.

I’m a firm believer you can dress up any outfit with a nice pair of heels, a bright lippy and some nice jewelry.

You can’t go wrong with an LBD

What to wear for day trips?

On most days you’ll probably get off the boat and explore the destination. These days are often tiring because you’ll want to see as much as you possibly can in just one day. It will involve lots of walking and time outdoors so you really need to be comfortable.

Pack comfy, casual lightweight clothes and shoes. You won’t need walking boots or heels for the day times. Personally, I’m comfortable walking all day in flip flops so Havianas are my daytime footwear of choice.

You’ll also need a small day bag. I want to emphasise the small here. I saw people on my last cruise going on day trips with backpacks. What on earth could they have in there?

You’ll need your camera, possibly your phone, purse, water, sunglasses, card to get back on the boat, sun cream, maybe a snack and that’s pretty much it. Keep your bag light so it doesn’t weigh you down or make you a target for thieves.

Cute dresses are easy to pack and easy to wear. If there’s a chance it might be cold, opt for darker colours and wear with tights and a cardigan

Days at sea

You’ll probably have a couple of days at sea during your cruise and these days are all about relaxing. I’m planning to spend these days snoozing by the pool or in the spa so I’ll need little more than a bikini, a sunhat and a cover-up dress.

Other things you might forget to pack

Power strip for plugs

I know I travel with a lot of gadgets but on my last cruise I didn’t have enough plug sockets in my room to charge everything at night. This time I’ll be taking a multi-adaptor with four USB points which makes it much easier to get everything charged in one go.

Hand moisturiser

For health and safety reasons you need to use antibacterial gel every time you get on the ship after you disembarked for the day. I have really dry skin anyway so my hands got particularly dry after a few days.

Gym Kit

Celebrity Cruises have a great gym so I’m planning to use it during our days at sea. It’s easy to put on weight during a cruise because there is so much gorgeous food on offer.

Warm cardigan or jacket

One of my favourite things during my last cruise was walking around the deck at night time and watching the stars. There was also a lovely restaurant on the top deck with a great outdoor seating area. This is beautiful and relaxing place to sit but it will be cold at nighttime, particularly while you’re at sea because there will always be a breeze.

Monica is the founder and editor of The Travel Hack. She began the blog in 2009 when she left the UK to travel around Asia and Australia for two years. She's now a professional blogger and has travelled around the world in search of stylish adventure travel.Monica has recently had her second baby and is determined to prove that travelling with a baby is possible!

Good list! I spent most of my family summer holidays on cruises so I’m shockingly well rehearsed in packing for one! The extension lead/power strip is such a good tip, especially if you ever share a room (fights will ensue).

What’s great is that if a cruise goes from Southampton (or elsewhere in the UK), there isn’t any baggage limit so overpacking is a sweet, sweet luxury!

hello there! Just discovered you and I am loving your website. Your theme is right up my alley. J’aime! Great trips,given that I leave tomorrow on a cruise and I have to pack tonight! My list is done but I may just reconsider 2-3 items after reading your post. bisous from Paris, Maria del mar

Perfect recommendations! I like your way of packing and carefully picking your clothes. I also try not to over pack, to choose the stuff that I mostly like and know I am gonna put on for sure. Thanks for the checklist. I never packed for a cruise, so it’s good to read some suggestions and ideas. Best regards

Such a fab post! I’m going on a Norwegian Cruise this summer and I have little-to-no idea how I’m going to pack, as I’m not sure how exposed the Fjords will be, how much time will be spent exploring, etc. Luckily, I adore packing and researching ‘what to pack’ is a literal favourite pass-time of mine, so I’m sure whatever I end up packing will work. This blogpost is a great starting point! I’ll be sure to write a blog post about what I was glad I packed and what I was sad I didn’t pack on my return.

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